Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands

This full-color guide to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands includes vibrant photos and helpful planning maps.

Seasoned traveler and journalist Ben Westwood leads adventurers to off-the-beaten-path experiences in Ecuador, from riding a train up the steep switchbacks of the famous Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) to diving off of the Galápagos Islands, where the waters are abundant with ocean life. Westwood also includes several trip strategies—such as the Indigenous Past and Present tour and Sun and Surf tour—which cater to the diverse interests of travelers. Complete with information on exploring the colonial architecture of Quito’s Old Town and climbing volcanoes in Sangay National Park, Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

What’s inside Moon Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Enjoy the very best of Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands with these itineraries:

The Best of Ecuador

Indigenous Past and Present

Adrenaline Rush

Galapagos Expedition

Wildlife Wonders

Sun and Surf

Ecuador’s Best Beaches/li>

Explore what Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands has to offer.

Recommendations for the top sights, recreation, entertainment, hotels, and food in:

Quito and Vicinity

Northern Sierra including Quito to Otavalo, Otavalo, Northwest of Otavalo, Ibarra and Vicinity, Tulcán and the Colombian Border

Central Sierra including Machachi and and Aloasí, Machachi to Latacunga, Latacunga and Vicinity, Ambato and Vicinity, Baños and Vicinity, Ambato to Guaranda, Riobamba and Vicinity

Southern Sierra including Ingapirca and Vicinity, Cuenca and Vicinity, Loja and Vicinity, Crossing into Peru

The Oriente including Quito to Baeza, Northern Oriente, Lower Río Napo, South to Tena and Vicinity, and Southern Oriente

North and Central Coasts and Lowlands including Western Lowlands

Guayaquil and the Southern Coast including Santa Elena Province, Guayaquil and Vicinity, Machala and Vicinity

The Galápagos Islands including Santa Cruz and Nearby Islands, San Cristóbal, Santiago and Nearby Islands, Western Islands, Southern Islands, and Northern Islands

Resources include a Spanish Phrasebook

Share this:

Ben Westwood dreamed of being a writer and musician from an early age. Growing up in England, he combined the two by studying music and getting involved in student journalism in London. He wrote his first travel journal during a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.

After graduating from college, Ben decided to follow his passion for travel; with an English-language teaching qualification under his belt, he set off for Ecuador. In the year he spent there, he fell in love with the country—and one of its citizens. He returned to the UK, newly married, to complete a postgraduate degree at the country’s top journalism school, City University.

Ben worked for The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk as a travel journalist and online travel editor, writing articles on everything from encounters with Maoist guerrillas in Nepal to encounters with drunken Brits in Greece. After a brief stint working in adventure tourism, Ben returned to South America to combine his passions for teaching and travel writing. In addition to Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands, he is the author of Moon Machu Picchu and Moon Peru. He has also contributed to the The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian.

Ben currently teaches journalism and tourism at Brighton University in the UK. He still finds time to sing and play the guitar, and has released one self-funded album, Keep Dreaming. Follow him on Twitter @BenWestwood and at SoundCloud as benwestwoodmusic.

Jon Jared first experienced the itch for travel during summer trips with his grandparents to England, Scotland, and Wales. After visiting Zambia and traversing the mountain towns of Colorado, he moved to Ecuador in search of a new understanding of the world around him. In Ecuador, Jon has worked at hotels, restaurants, and bars; served as a local guide, a freelance writer and editor; and managed the South American Explorers Club in Quito, where he currently lives.